Craig W. Barrett - Hughesville MD Real Estate

We're planning for September 6, 2008, so save the date! I'm working on getting the course USTAF certified. Also being held are a 5k walk/run and a Kid's Fun Run. The 10k is a loop and the 5k is an out and back. The 5k will be held immediately following the start of the 10k.

I mapped the course using MapMyRun and ran it using my Garmin Forerunner. The distance and time of year are perfect for training for the upcoming fall marathons.

Registration, time and registration fees are to be determined. We plan on having food, drinks, music, pre-race stretching and post-race massages.

Start and finish are in the Village of Hughesville, MD on Business Route 5. The race will start close to the Red Barn and head south on Business route 5, turn right on Burnt Store Road, turn right on Cracklingtown Road, turn right on Route 5 to the bypass and take the Hughesville/Prince Frederick exit, bear right past the Hughesville Fire Department, turn right on Business Route 5 to finish.

The elevation and run are interesting. It is mostly flat with some rolling hills, small town, pasture, rural and some residential views. Water stops are planned for every 1.5 miles or so. The end of the race is a straight away and should be lined with plenty of spectators to encourage you all the way to the finish.

No headphones, no wheels (roller blades, bikes, strollers, etc.), no dogs. I plan to have chip timing and awards for various age groups. All 10k and 5k participants will receive a t-shirt and another take-away (medal, hat, etc...) to be determined. We'll also give the kids something.

We are also planning a Hughesville Festival to coincide with the Run to feature local crafters, local artists, local history, and showcase Hughesville businesses. We believe this fun-filled, family event will strengthen our sense of community and raise awareness of the Hughesville Revitalization Plan.

We'll be contacting all of the businesses in Hughesville. We have a couple of sponsors lined up, but more are needed. If your business is willing to participate, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Some of this may change, so please check back often for updates.

The census-designated place of Hughesville has a total land area of 11.2 miles. Because Hughesville, though small, is considered the strategic geographic center of the Tri-County Southern Maryland region, it houses institutions such as the Electric Company, Humane Society, Economic Development Council, and Board of Realtors, which serve the Tri-County area. The local Fire Department, Hughesville Fire and Rescue Company 2, are located in Hughesville as well.

Here's some background on the Village of Hughesville and where we're headed:

Settled as part of the Southern Maryland Region in 1643, the area known as Hughesville was established as a crossroads agricultural community in the late 19th century. Hughesville and the surrounding region quickly established their economies and currency around the tobacco agricultural industry. As a result of that industry and the establishment of the railroad, the village continued to grow during the first half of the 20th century.

Tobacco remained the economic keystone of the region and the primary economic engine until the latter portion of the 20th century. Today, along with other areas in the Southern Maryland Region, Hughesville continues to try and deal with the issues created by the decline of the tobacco industry. The village today contains a variety of historic resources including bungalows and other early 20th century mail-order homes, tobacco warehouses, department stores and filling stations. Small tobacco farmsteads and a Quaker cemetery are located on the historic fringe of town. Hughesville is approximately 620 acres and has recently been augmented with a bypass along MD 5 known as the Hughesville Bypass.

With the build of the Northeastern Alignment for the Hughesville Bypass, the County recognizes that changes are coming to Hughesville. In order to ensure that these changes are positive, the County Commissioners decided that a planning process for Hughesville should be undertaken. In doing this, the entire community will be afforded an opportunity to provide input into a planning process, which will lay the foundation for a desired future for Hughesville. The Plan will help to identify what the future can and should hold for Hughesville. The efforts will focus on the business aspects of Hughesville’s future by looking at those areas currently planned, zoned or used for commercial or industrial use.

This study will focus on possible revitalization/physical improvements to the existing village. As a result of this study, Hughesville may retain its village designation or be upgraded to a higher designation. The plan will provide and explore the necessary background and historical information, existing conditions and projected activities to answer the following questions:

• What type of economic development is necessary to revitalize the existing Hughesville Rural Village?
  

• What physical improvements are necessary for revitalization of the area?

The focus of the plan will be on the identification of revitalization strategies, with specific emphasis on the economic development potential of the Village and future physical enhancement projects.

April saw 11 new resale listings and seven new construction listing. As expected, activity has picked up but not enough to substantially increase absorption rate. Like last month, the resale market increased under contracts and volume appears to be realatively steady.

I think prices have come down to a point that has generated buyer interest, however prices continue to drift downward in some neighborhoods. Resales were priced between $220,000-$1,199,000. New Construction was priced between $349,900-$989,900.

Feel free to contact me with questions.

Includes: Benedict Plantation, Bryantown Estates, Cameron Ridge, Carrico Mill, Carriage Crossing, Country Road Estates, Eastern Hills, Indian Creek Estates, Lake Jameson, Oakland Acres, Pine Grove Estates, Sandy Level Estates, Scouts Trail, Stoneleigh, Swanson Creek Landing, Walnut Hills, Willow Creek, Woodlawn Manor

Includes: Benedict Farms, Bucks Run, Carriage Crossing, Crystal Lake, Forest Run, Herbert Fields, Lake Jameson, Maple Brooke, Naylors Reserve, Ole Field Estates, Stoneleigh, Swan's Rest

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When buying or selling a home in Hughesville, MD and the surrounding area, you deserve local expertise and advice. Craig W. Barrett provides professional Real Estate services to home buyers and sellers in the Maryland areas of Hughesville, Charlotte Hall, Benedict, Waldorf, La Plata, Mechanicsville, Aquasco, Baden, Croom, Prince Frederick, Broomes Island, Dunkirk, Huntingtown and the Virginia areas of Leesburg, Ashburn, Aldie, Oak Hill, Fairfax, Montross and King George.

I emphatically oppose the Chaney application for rezoning to Heavy Industrial from Agricultural Conservative and I implore our Planning Commission to deny the application. Every one of us in Hughesville continues to work hard for our investment. This is where we raise our kids, tend to our homes and produce our goods. It's so painfully obvious to me this location is inappropriate for a Heavy Industrial operation. I am most concerned with peripheral development around the Village of Hughesville. It's reasonable to surmise once one parcel goes Heavy Industrial, a precedent is set and other applications and approvals will soon follow.

According to the 2003 Maryland State Highway Administration Traffic Volume Map, there were of an average of 14,725 daily trips in that approximate location. I suspect the relocation of an operation requiring a rezoning to Heavy Industrial from Agricultural Conservative will only exacerbate an already over-utilized two-lane road with truck traffic. I also think other routes in the area will be affected. Route 381, Route 5, Route 2, Route 4, Dr. Bowen Road, Poplar Hill Road, Oliver Shop Road and Bryantown Road will probably see increased truck traffic if the application to rezone is approved.

We have a revitalization plan and rezoning an Agricultural Conservative parcel to Heavy Industrial for a sand and gravel operation is not a desire of the community or the vision of the plan. I certainly understand Chaney's desire to relocate to Hughesville, the location to distribute/receive product to/from the rest of Southern Maryland is ideal for any business.

The Village Revitalization Plan was designed to accommodate anticipated growth, village core revitalization, economic development and physical enhancement while preserving the village center character of Hughesville. How does a large, Heavy Industrial operation fit in the Hughesville Village Revitalization Plan? Clearly, it doesn't. I don't think it's visually desirable and I am unable to connect the direct economic benefit to Hughesville and its citizens.

Hughesville is at a cross-road and I think Chaney Enterprises is too. I think Chaney has an opportunity to diversifying their business. Obviously, sand and gravel are in limited supply in Charles County. So what's next for Chaney? Why not consider planting a vineyard at the Hughesville site? There has been tremendous local interest and State level support in the wine grape production throughout the Southern Maryland region. The agricultural use may fit the needs of revitalizing the Village of Hughesville and certainly would fit the broad agrarian characteristics of the surrounding area.

Maryland Cooperative Extension coordinated a workshop earlier this year that covered a broad overview of commercial vineyard development. From pre-plant planning and into the third year including economics, marketing information, variety, clone and rootstock choices, site selection and preparation, pre-plant decisions, equipment and supply requirements, the basics of ordering, planting, and tending the vines through the third year of growth, as well as best practices for training, canopy management, and pest management. That was the first of a two-part series. Why not take advantage of their experience and expertise?

I have no idea if the soil will support wine grapes, if Chaney is motivated or if there's any community support for a commercial Vineyard. But with a parcel as large as this one and given its location, I think there's an excellent opportunity here. Not only is it an excellent opportunity to diversify a mature County business, but an excellent opportunity to help revive a once thriving Village and preserve the surrounding community's quality of life.

Chaney Vineyards. What do you think?

Craig Barrett
Hughesville, MD

Oak Ridge park is located in Hughesville, MD on Oaks Road. This eastern area park offers a combination of active and passive recreational activities.

Athletic fields for official league use, by permit only, include little league and full size baseball fields. Also a field is available for community pick-up play. A playground and picnic pavilion area are included at this facility.

Saturday April 26 was opening day for Hughesville Baseball, most of the games were played at Oak Ridge Park in Hughesville. The day started early with individual and team pictures. The weather was perfect. The afternoon high reached the low 80's with bright sunshine and a nice breeze.

In addition to baseball and softball fields, Oak Ridge Park has an equestrian area and riding trails. The Oak Ridge Park Equestrian Area is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to Dusk (weather permitting). Features include a show area with two riding rings and miles of equestrian trails.

Wooded equestrian trails and two show rings are available on a first come, first served, basis unless there are scheduled events. This facility is available for rent by equestrian organizations and ideal for youth and open events. This area of Oak Ridge Park is open to the public sever (7) days a week from dawn to dusk.

Show Area: This section consists of two sand arenas measuring 320' x 150' and 280' x 150'. Additional features include a large judges stand with roof and electric, bleachers, turf warm-up area, trailer parking area with water, portable toilets and additional trailer/spectator parking for large events. The show area is open on a first come basis, except during scheduled special events.

For scheduled equestrian events please see: http://www.charlescounty.org/pf/pg/parks/schedule_oakridge.pdf

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When buying or selling Real Estate in Hughesville, MD and the surrounding area, you deserve local expertise and advice. Craig W. Barrett provides professional Real Estate services to home buyers and sellers in the Maryland areas of Hughesville, Charlotte Hall, Benedict, Waldorf, La Plata, Mechanicsville, Aquasco, Baden, Croom, Prince Frederick, Broomes Island, Dunkirk, Huntingtown and the Virginia areas of Leesburg, Ashburn, Aldie, Oak Hill, Fairfax, Montross and King George.